A massively multi-authored mobile surrealist book

In this paper we describe an innovative mobile game in the form a multi-authored book. Based upon the 1920s surrealist technique of “Exquisite Corpse”, the book builds from a series of standard text message length contributions with each author being given only the previous message on which to base their own contribution. Previous contributors are encouraged to spread the awareness of the book, and hence the number of participants, by forwarding a text message to produce a mobile viral distribution mechanism. The book has been designed as a mobile multiplayer game as it has, in common with the surrealist technique, its origins in the Victorian parlor game of ‘Consequences’, and as user feedback shows, it does demonstrate many game attributes. The book offers an interesting perspective into how massively multiplayer mobile games may be used, how they can be made appealing to the very broad mobile user demographic, and how the elusive phenomena of mobile viral distribution occur...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: ACMACE
• Authors: William Bamford, Paul Coulton, Reuben Edwards
• Keywords: ACMACE 2006, Mobile Games, Mobile Viral Distribution, Surrealist Technique